-Caveat Lector-
Channel 4 Sun Dec 13 23:44:00 1998
(DATELINE, DEMOCRATS SHAKE INDIANS DOWN FOR CONTRIBUTION)
>> IT'S ONE OF THE UGLIER PICTURES THAT CAME OUT OF THE LAST
CAMPAIGN.
>> Reporter: AS MINORITY COUNSEL ON THE SENATE WATERGATE
COMMITTEE, FRED THOMPSON SAW PLENTY OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
NOW, A REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE, HE HEADED UP THE
COMMITTEE THAT INVESTIGATED THE CAMPAIGN OF 1996, INCLUDING THE
SAGA OF THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO INDIANS.
>> A REAL SIMPLE ANSWER TO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, UH, THERE WAS A
SHAKEDOWN.
THESE PEOPLE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
MONEY, IN THIS CASE OVER $100,000, THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT WOULD
LISTEN TO THEM AND THEY'D GET WHAT THEY WANTED.
>> Reporter: WHAT THEY WANTED WAS THE LAND BACK.
AND SENATOR THOMPSON SAYS THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO'S TRIP FROM
IMPOVERISHED OKLAHOMA TRIBE TO COVETED DEMOCRATIC CONTRIBUTOR IS A
ROAD MAP TO THE CENTER OF THE PROBLEMS WITH BIG MONEY POLITICS.
>> YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOING.
NOT IN THIS WORLD.
>> Reporter: THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO'S TREASURER AND UNOFFICIAL
TRIBAL HISTORIAN, ARCHIE HOFFMAN, SAYS MEMRS WERE QUICK TO THINK A
DONATION WOULD HELP BECAUSE MANY BELIEVED THAT STRATEGY HAD
ALREADY PAID OFF FOR OTHER OKLAHOMA INDIANS.
THE CHEROKEES GAVE MONEY?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
>> BOTH DEMOCRATS AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ALSO.
>> Reporter: AND THEY'RE DOING BETTER THAN YOU ARE?
>> THEY'RE DOING MUCH BETTER THAN WE ARE.
>> Reporter: AND YOU THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THEY GAVE MONEY?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE BALL GAME RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU GOT MONEY, YOU'LL GET HEARD.
IF YOU AIN'T GOT MONEY, FORGET IT.
NOBODY GONNA TALK TO YOU.
>> Reporter: AND SO, THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBE, WITH MORE THAN
HALF ITS MEMBERS UNEMPLOYED, AGREED TO MAKE A DONATION -- A BIG
ONE.
>> "IF, UH, THE CHEROKEES CAN GIVE $50,000, WHY CAN'T GIVE
$100,000?
MAYBE THEY'LL HEAR US," YOU KNOW.
>> Reporter: MORE TO KEEP UP TH THE JONESES.
IN THIS CASE, THE CHEROKEES.
>> YEAH.
WE THOUGHT WE'D GET SOME DOORS OPEN.
>> Reporter: THE TRIBE'S PLEDGE OF $100,000 TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY SEEMED TO OPEN A VERY BIG DOOR.
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THEY AGREED TO GIVE THE MONEY, THEY WERE
INVITED TO LUNCH AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY ARRIVED AT WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL AIRPORT ON JUNE 17, 1996,
FULL OF HOPE ABOUT A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, WHICH THEY SAW AS
THEIR BEST CHANCE YET TO GET BACK THE FT. RENO LANDS.
BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, THE TRIBE'S ATTORNEY, RICK GRELLNER, SAYS
DEMOCRATIC FUND-RAISERS WANTED TO TALK WITH THEM.
AND WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU, "WELCOME TO WASHINGTON"?
>> THE FUND-RAISERS ASKED IF WE HAD, IN FACT, BROUGHT THE CHECK.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THEY ASKED?
"WHERE'S THE MONEY?"
>> BASICALLY, YES.
>> Reporter: BEFORE THE LUNCHEON, CHARLES SURVEYOR AND TYLER TODD,
ANOTHER LEADER OF THE IMPOVERISHED CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBET OURED
THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MR. CLINTON AND SOME OF HIS PARTY'S BIGGEST
SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING THE SENIOR VICE PREDENT OF THIS COUNTRY'S
SECOND LARGEST RAILROAD, THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF A $15
BILLION FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, AND THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF A
$200 BILLION INVESTMENT FIRM.
>> THAT'S MY FAVORITE PORTRA OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.
I LOVE IT.
>> Reporter: AS THE LUNCH PLATES WERE CLEARED AWAY, SURVEYOR SAYS,
TERRY McAULIFFE, THE FORMER FINANCE CHIEF FOR CLINTON/GORE '96,
OFFERED EACH ATTENDEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THE
PRESIDENT.
>> THE PRESIDENT TURNED AND SO I STARTED TALKING.
>> Reporter: SURVEYOR TOLD THE PRESIDENT ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS
FACING THE TRIBE, INCLUDING THEIR BATTLES WITH HOMELESSNESS,
POVERTY, AND ALCOLISM.
IT WAS THE FIRST FACE-TO-FACE TALK ANY CHEYENNE ARAPAHO CHIEF HAD
EVER HAD WITH ANY U.S.
PRESIDENT.
>> TERRY MADE A COMMEN "DO YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE?" I SAID, "WELL,
YES.
OUR FT. RENO LANDS" AND I BROUGHT THAT UP.
>> Reporter: SURVEYOR SAYS HE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR AT LEAST
15 MINUTES ABOUT HIS TRIBE'S FIGHT TO GET BACK THE FT. RENO LANDS.
SURVEYOR DESCRIBES THE PRESIDENT AS NODDING HIS HEAD IN AGREEMENT
AS THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN DESCRIBED THIS CRITICAL NEED OF HIS PEOPLE.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
>> HE LOOKED OVER WHERE HIS SECRETARY WAS SITTING HE SAID, "DO WE
HAVE ANYTHING ON THE FT. RENO DEAL?" SHE SAID, "YES, WE GOT A
PACKET HERE." AND THEN HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "I'LL SEE WHAT
CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT," SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT RIGHT THERE.
>> Reporter: YOU THOUGHT THAT MEANT YOU WERE GONNA GET YOUR LANDS
BACK AFTER MORE THAN 100 YEARS.
>> AT THE TIME, YES.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY PROMISE TO DO IT?
>> NO.
HE DIDN'T.
THE PRESIDENT PROMISED NOTHING, YOU KNOW.
BUT I FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.
MAYBE, FINALLY WE WOULD GET SOMEPLACE ON THIS.
>> Reporter: SO YOU WALK OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, WHAT, ON A CLOUD?
>> OVER IT, I GUESS.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST THE PRESIDENT SAYING HE'D LOOK
INTO THE TRIBE'S CASE THAT HAD THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN WALKING AMONG
THE CLOUDS.
ACCORDING TO SURVEYOR, TERRY McAULIFFE, CLINTON'S CHIEF FUND-
RAISER SAID SOMETHING TO SURVEYOR THAT PUSHED HIM TO EVEN LOFTIER
HEIGHTS.
>> TERRY McAULIFFE DID MAKE A COMMENT AS WE'RE WALKING OUT OF
THERE.
HE SAID "MR. CHAIRMAN, THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE GONNA DO SOMETHING.
HE'S GONNA DO IT." YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF LIFTS YOU UP A LITTLE
MORE.
>> Reporter: SO HE KIND OF ENCOURAGED YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE
PRESIDENT HAD SAID MEANT THAT SOMETHING WAS GONNA HAPPEN WITH YOUR
LANDS.
>> YES.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK HE WAS DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU HADN'T
PAID YOUR MONEY YET?
>> IT'S POSSIBLE.
>> Reporter: TERRY McAULIFFE REFUSED OUR REQUEST FOR AN ON-CAMERA
INTERVIEW BUT IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION SAID HE WAS SIMPLY
ANOTHER LUNCH GUEST.
WITH ABSOLUTELY NO OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE THE
CLINTON/GORE CAMPAIGN HAD ALREADY MET ITS FUND-RAISING GOALS.
BUT "DATELINE" OBTAINED THIS DOCUMENT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
COMMITTEE WHICH DESCRIBES McAULIFFE AS HAVING "GATHERED THE
ATTENDEES FOR THIS LUNCH" AND "BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR INTRODUCING
THE GUESTS WHO ARE ALREADY SEATED FOR LUNCH." AND IT IDENTIFIES
McAULIFFE AS BEING THE NATIONAL FINANCE CHAIRMAN FOR CLINTON/GORE
'96, EVEN THOUGH McAULIFFE SAYS HE HAD ALREADY RESIGNED FROM THAT
JOB.
ALSO, McAULIFFE SAYS WHILE HE DOES NOT REMEMBER MR. SURVEYOR, THE
TRIBE, OR ANYTHING SAID AT THE LUNCH, HE DOES REMEMBER THAT HE
NEVER SUGGESTED TO THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD
HELP HIM RECOVER THE FT. RENO LANDS.
>> WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE WITH REGARD TO
THE PRESIDENT OR OTHER PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH THE CAMPAIGN.
BUT WE KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE MINDS OF THE MEN FROM THE TRIBE. AND
THAT IS THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD DONE THEMSELVES SOME GOOD.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY STILL HAD TO CONVINCE THE REST OF THE TRIBE.
SURVEYOR AND TODD RETURNED HOME TO LOBBY OTHER CHEYENNE ARAPAHO
LEADERS TO MAKE GOOD ON THE $100,000 PLEDGE TO THE DEMOCRATS.
AND OVER THE NEXT WEEK, WHILE THE TRIBE DEBATED WHETHER IT COULD
AFFORD THAT CONTRIBUTION, THEIR ATTORNEY SAYS DEMOCRATIC FUND-
RAISERS TURNED INTO PRACTICALLY A COLLECTION AGENCY.
HOW MANY TIMES DID THE DEMOCRATS CALL TO ASK FOR THE MONEY?
>> AT LEAST FIVE, MAYBE SIX, SEVEN TIMES.
>> Reporter: SO THEY WERE CALLING ALMOST EVERY DAY?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: SAYING, "WHERE'S OUR $100,000?"
>> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: YOU SAT IN THAT WHITE HOUSE LUNCHEON AND TALKED ABOUT
HOW TOUGCONDITIONS WERE FOR THE TRIBES.
>> MM-HMM.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN IT WAS OVER, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS STILL
ASKING YOU FOR $100,000, WEREN'T THEY?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: BUT CHARLES SURVEYOR HAD TOLD THE TRUTH TO THE
PRESIDENT BACK IN WASHINGTON.
THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO INDIANS DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
WHERE DID YOU GET $100,000?
>> FROM THIS PLACE WE'RE SITTING AT.
>> Reporter: THE LUCKY STAR BINGO HALL DIDN'T TURN A PROFIT, BUT
IT DID EARN THE TRIBE $5000 A MONTH IN MANAGEMENT FEES FROM THE
CASINO'S OPERATOR.
BUT AFTER SAVING TWO YEARS OF FEES, THE TRIBE WAS STILL SHORT.
THEY'D PROMISED THE DEMOCRATS A 100 GRAND, BUT THEY HAD ONLY
$87,671.74 IN THE BANK.
THEY GAVE IT ALL, EVERY PENNY.
WAS THAT ENOUGH FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
>> WE DONE PROMISED $100,000, YOU KNOW.
SO THEY SAID, "WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE THE REST OF IT UP BY
SPONSORING THE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE PRESIDENT." THAT HONOR WOULD
COST THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO ANOTHER $20,000.
IT WAS MONEY THEY MIGHT HAVE SPENT ON HEALTH CARE FOR THE TRIBE'S
ELDERLY MEMBERS.
INSTEAD, TRIBAL LEADERS AGAIN DIPPED INTO THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES
AND SENT THAT MONEY TO THE DEMOCRATS, RAISING THEIR TOTAL DONATION
TO $107,000.
AT THAT MOMENT, THEY WERE THE DEMOCRATS' SINGLE LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR IN OKLAHOMA, BUT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE THEIR LANDS
BACK.
AND THEY WERE TAPPED OUT.
WHAT LESSON YOU TAKE AWAY FROM ALL THIS DEPENDS A LITTLE ON YOUR
PARTY REGISTRATION.
FOR DEMOCRATS, THE STORY OF THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO INDIANS IS PROOF
THAT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS DON'T GUARANTEE RESULTS.
FOR REPUBLICANS, IT'S JUST AS CLEARLY SIGN THAT IN 1996, DEMOCRATS
NATIONALLY WOULD SAY ANYTHING OR DO ANYTHING TO GENERATE CAMPAIGN
MONEY -- EVEN TO THE POINT OF USING THE PRESIDENT AS BAIT.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIAN TRIBES THAT HAD ABOUT A 62%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
THEY GAVE LITERALLY EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.
THESE PEOPLE AT THE WHITE HOUSE KNEW THAT.
THEN THEY WERE HANDED OFF AFTER THE ELECTION, NOT HAVING GIVEN
THEM ANYTHING, TO POLITICAL CONSULTANTS WHO PUT THEM BACK THROUGH
THE RINGER AGAIN.
>> Reporter: THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR INTRODUCING THE TRIBE TO
THOSE POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND FRIENDS OF THE CLINTON/GORE
CAMPAIGN IS MICHAEL COPPERTHITE, A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT
WHO HAD BEEN TOLD THE TRIBE MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
CAMPAIGN HE WAS MANAGING.
>> I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE TRIBE OR THEIR SITUATION, SO I PICKED
UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THEM.
>> Reporter: COPPERTHITE, A BABY-FACED 20-YEAR VETERAN OF
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGNS, PROUDLY WEARS THE "PT 109" TIE CLIP THAT
BRANDS YOU A KENNEDY MAN AND AN UNABASHED LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.
HE SAYS WHEN HE LEARNED ABOUT THE TRIBE'S EFFORTS TO GET BACK THE
FT. RENO LANDS AND HOW THEY WERE STILL BEING SOLICITED FOR
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, HE OFFERED TO HELP.
THERE ARE LOTS OF INDIAN TRIBES WITH DIFFERENT CLAIMS AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THIS TRIBE FOR FREE?
>> THE FIRST CAMIGN I WORKED ON WAS BOBBY KENNEDY'S AT AGE 12.
I'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN INVOLVED AND HELPED PEOPLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN
TRYING TO HELP THEM MOVE ALONG.
I KNEW THEY'D BEEN SNOOKERED AT WORST, AND AT BEST, ALL THEY WERE
GONNA GET WAS A HEARING ON THEIR LAND CLAIM, NOT ANY REAL ACTION.
>> Reporter: RIGHT AFTER THE '96 ELECTION, COPPERTHITE CONTACTED
THE TRIBE'S LAWYER AND OFFERED TO GET THE TRIBE IN TO SEE THE
RIGHT PEOPLE -- PEOPLE COPPERTHITE THOUGHT COULD HELP THEM GET
BACK THE FT. RENO LANDS.
AND EVENTUALLY, THROUGH YOU, THEY FOUND THEIR WAY TO NATHAN
LANDOW?
>> I DECIDED NATE LANDOW WAS A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE THE TRIBAL
REPRESENTATIVES.
>> Reporter: NATHAN LANDOW IS A MILLIONAIRE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
AND LONG-TIME FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A
FRIEND OF VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.
RECENTLY, LANDOW'S NAME SURFACED IN CONNECTION WITH KATHLEEN
WILLEY AND HER ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT.
NATE LANDOW IS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
DID THE TRIBE TELL YOU THEY WANTED TO MEET A REAL STATE DEVELOPER?
>> WELL, NO, THEY DIDN'T.
>> Reporter: YOU INTRODUCED THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TO NATE LANDOW,
NOT BECAUSE OF HIS SKILLS AS A LAND DEVELOPER, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS
CONNECTED TO VICE PRESIDENT GORE.
>> CORRECT.
>> Reporter: DID HE MARKET HIMSELF THAT WAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: THE TRIBE AND COPPERTHITE CLAIM THAT LANDOW SUGGESTED
THEY HIRE PETER KNIGHT, THE FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGEFOR CLINTON/GORE
'96, NOW A LOBBYIST AT A POWERFUL WASHINGTON LAW FIRM.
ACCORDING TO THE TRIBE, LANDOW TOLD THEM KNIGHT WAS THE MAN WHO
COULD BEST HELP THEM GET THE LAND BACK.
>> MR. LANDOW WAS -- AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS WAS SIMPLY
TAKING LOBBYING BUSINESS TO MR. KNIGHT.
>> Reporter: AND MR. LANDOW PAINTED PETER KNIGHT AS A GUY WHO
COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR YOU.
>> YEAH.
HE WOULD NOT TAKE THE CASE UNLESS HE COULD DELIVER.
>> YOU KNOW, THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN WAS ECSTATIC.
BECAUSE NOW HERE YOU HAVE A DEAR FRIEND OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER ABOUT THEIR LAND ISSUE
AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
THEY'RE THINKING THEIR $87,000 CONTRIBUTION TO GO SEE THE
PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOW BEARING FRUIT.
>> WHEN WE RETURN, WOULD THE TRIBES' GAMBLE PAY OFF?
OR WERE THEY IN OVER THEIR HEADS?
>> YOU THINK THESE INDIANS WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?
>> SURE.
>> SHAKEN DOWN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
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>>> RETURNING TO OUR STORY, THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBES HAVE
SCRAPED TOGETHER A SIX-FIGURE DONATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
HOPING IT WOULD HELP THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RECOVER THE LAND OF
THEIR ANCESTORS.
SO FAR, IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING.
A POLITICAL CONSULTANT ARRANGED A MEETING BETWEEN TRIBAL LEADERS
AND SOME POWERFUL WASHINGTON INSIDERS.
BUT WOULD IT TURN OUT TO BE A MEETING OF GOODWILL OR OF GREED?
HERE AGAIN IS JOSH MANKIEWICZ.
>> Reporter: THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO'S DONATION TO THE DEMOCRATS WAS
STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A BETTER GAMBLE THAN THEIR BINGO PARLOR SLOT
MACHINES.
THINGS SEEMED TO BE GOING WELL.
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN REELECTED AND EVEN THOUGH HE HADN'T
PERSONALLY INTERVENED TO HELP THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBE RECLAIM
THE LONG LOST FT. RENO LANDS, THE TRIBE SAYS OTHERS HAD PROMISED
THEIR HELP.
TRIBAL LEADERS THOUGHT THEY'D BE PLEADING THEIR CASE WITH THE HELP
OF DEMOCRATS LIKE CONSULTANT MIKE COPPERTHITE, BILL CLINTON'S
CAMPAIGN MANAGER, PETER KNIGHT, AND A BIG-TIME DEMOCRATIC FUND-
RAISER, NATHAN LANDOW.
SO THESE WERE CONNECTED GUYS?
>> THEY'RE BEYOND CONNECTED GUYS.
THISS THE TEAM THAT GOT ONLY THE SECOND DEMOCRAT REELECTED IN THIS
CENTURY TO PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> Reporter: OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL MEETINGS, THE
TRIBE SAYS LANDOW TOLD THEM THAT GETTING BACK FT. RENO WOULDN'T BE
FREE.
THAT PETER KNIGHT WOULD DO THE LOBBYING WORK FOR A REDUCED RATE,
BUT THAT LANDOW, RATHER THAN JUST OPENING UP SOME DOORS FOR THEM,
ALSO WANTED TO CASH IN.
HIS COMPENSATION WOULD BE TIED TO THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE LAND.
REMEMBER, THE FT. RENO LANDS MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE RICH WITH OIL
AND MINERAL DEPOSITS.
IF THEY ARE, THAT'S POTENTIALLY A WINDFALL FOR LANDOW WHO SET UP A
MEETING AT KNIGHT'S LAW FIRM TO FINALIZE THE DEAL.
ALL THE PRINCIPALS WERE SCHEDULED TO BE THERE, INCLUDING LANDOW,
THE TRIBE'S CHAIRMAN, CHARLES SURVEYOR, AND PETER KNIGHT.
>> MR. LANDOW INDICATED TO US THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE US TO
SEE MR. KNIGHT UNTIL THE TRIBE HAD A CHECK IN HAND READY TO SIGN A
CONTRACT.
>> Reporter: BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE, CHAIRMAN SURVEYOR, THE ONE
PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE WOULD BIND THE TRIBE TO A DEAL COULDN'T
ATTEND, SO THE TRIBAL ATTORNEY AND COPPERTHITE WENT TO THE MEETING
ALONE.
>> THERE WAS PLEASANT CONVERSATION -- A LITTLE BIT WHERE PETER
KNIGHT AND HIS ASSISTANT EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO TAKE THIS CASE
ON.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE TRIBE'S LAWYER, WHEN LANDOW REALIZED
NO AGREEMENT WOULD BE SIGNED OR CHECKS HANDED OVER, HE BECAME
ANGRY.
>> HE DISMISSED EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS THERE, AND BEGAN TO DIRECT
HIS FRUSTRATION TOWARDS MR. COPPERTHITE AND I.
>> Reporter: GRELLNER AND COPPERTHITE SAY LANDOW EXPLODED IN FURY.
>> HE BROKE OUT INTO AN ALL-OUT RAGE, AND EVERY OTHER WORD WAS
PROFANE.
>> THIS WAS FAR WORSE THAN ANY FIT OR TEMPER TANTRUM I'VE EVER
SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
IT WAS JUST REALLY NASTY.
>> AND SO, AT THAT POINT, HE DICTATED TO ME THE TERMS OF THE
AGREEMENT THAT HE WANTED.
>> Reporter: HE HAD YOU WRITE ALL THAT DOWN?
>> HE HAD ME WRITE ALL THAT DOWN.
>> Reporter: AND FROM THAT, GRELLNER SAYS HE DRAFTED THIS CONTRACT
THAT LANDOW WANTED, CALLING FOR $100,000 UP FRONT TO PETER
KNIGHT'S LAW FIRM, WHICH WOULD THEN REPRESENT THE TRIBE FOR
ANOTHER $10,000 A MONTH.
AND, UNDER THE AGREEMENT, NATHAN LANDOW WOULD RECEIVE 10% OF ANY
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FT. RENO LANDS -- AND 10% OF ANY OIL AND GAS
REVENUE.
IT'S A DEAL THAT COULD HAVE MADE THE ALREADY WEALTHY MR. LANDOW
EVEN RICHER.
AND RICK GRELLNER SAYS LANDOW WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE DEAL WAS
DONE.
>> HE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T DO THIS DEAL, I WILL [ BLEEP ] YOU."
>> Reporter: MR. LANDOW THREATENED YOU?
>> WELL, THAT'S HOW I TOOK IT.
BECAUSE WE HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF
WE DIDN'T DO THIS DEAL, THAT HE WOULD MAKE SURE THE TRIBE NEVER
GOT ITS LAND BACK.
>> WHAT KNOCKED ME OFF MY FEET IS WHEN HE TRIED TO EXTORT THIS
TRIBE IN MY PRESENCE AND WAS HOLDING INFLUENCE PEDDLING WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AS A WAY FOR THE TRIBE TO EITHER GET THEIR LAND, OR
NOT EVER GET THEIR LAND BACK.
>> Reporter: NATHAN LANDOW REFUSED TO TALK TO "DATELINE," BUT IN A
SWORN STATEMENT TO SENATOR THOMPSON'S COMMITTEE, MR. LANDOW SAID
THE TRIBE CAME TO HIM FOR HELP DEVELOPING THE FT. RENO LANDS, AND
THAT HE DEALT WITH THEM FAIRLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
AND THAT HE NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN THE TRIBE'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH
PETER KNIGHT'S LAW FIRM.
MR. LANDOW ALSO DENIED EVER THREATENING THE TRIBE.
IS MR. LANDOW TELLING THE TRUTH?
>> NO, MR. LANDOW IS LYING.
THEN HE SAID, "I'M GONNA SEND YOU DOWN A CONTRACT.
PETER KNIGHT'S CONTRACT WILL FOLLOW.
YOU WILL SEND IT BACK TO US SIGNED, AND WITH A CHECK, AND APPROVED
BY THE TRIBAL COMMITTEE AND WE'LL GET TO WORK ON GETTING YOUR LAND
BACK."
>> Reporter: AND WHAT ABOUT NATHAN LANDOW'S FRIEND, PETER KNIGHT?
THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN MANAGER-TURNED-LOBBYIST ALSO REFUSED TO TALK
ON-CAMERA, BUT IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, KNIGHT CLAIMED THAT
HIS ENTIRE CONNECTION TO THIS STORY IS THE FIVE MINUTES HE SAT IN
A CONFERENCE ROOM WAITING TO PAY HIS RESPECTS TO THE HEAD OF THE
CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBE.
SO, IF MR. KNIGHT NOW SAYS HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT
THE CLAIM PERSONALLY, WASN'T PLANNING ON TAKING IT ON, MAYBE
SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE OFFICE WAS, BUT HE REALLY WASN'T VERY
INTERESTED IN IT AND DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT --
>> HE'S LYING, TOO.
>> Reporter: SENATOR FRED THOMPSON'S COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE
TRIBE'S DEALINGS WITH NATHAN LANDOW AND PETER KNIGHT.
DO YOU THINK MR. LANDOW AND MR. KNIGHT WERE TRYING TO PERSONALLY
ENRICH THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY KNEW HOW MUCH THE INDIANS WANTED
THE FT. RENO LANDS BACK?
>> WHAT WOULD YOU CALL $100,000 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 A
MONTH, PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES?
"ENRICHING YOURSELVES?" I THINK THAT'S A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION.
>> Reporte THE INDIANS BALKED AT THAT DEAL.
AND THEY SAY THAT MR. LANDOW THEN SAID TO THEM, "IF YOU DON'T DO
THIS, I WILL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER GET YOUR LANDS."
>> THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WITNESS TO THAT CONVERSATION.
I DO BELIEVE THAT IT TOOK PLACE.
AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DESPICABLE SINGLE ASPECT OF THE
WHOLE THING.
>> Reporter: WELL, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IT TOOK PLACE, THEN YOU
ALSO, BY DEFINITION, BELIEVE THAT MR. LANDOW LIED TO YOU IN HIS
DEPOSITION.
>> WELL, THIS MATTER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE GRAND JURY
DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHERE IT OUGHT TO BE.
AND, WE'LL WAIT AND PASS JUDGMENT ON ALL THAT ONCE THEY REACH
THEIR CONCLUSIONS.
>> Reporter: BUT CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS CLAIM THE PROBLEM'S NOT
NATHAN LANDOW.
IT'S THEIR FELLOW DEMOCRAT MIKE COPPERTHITE WHOSE CREDIBILITY
SHOULD BE QUESTIONED.
AND THEY POINT TO THIS MEMO AS PROOF -- A MEMO DEMOCRATS SAY SHOWS
COPPERTHITE OFFERED TO MAKE A SECRET DEAL WITH LANDOW, SPLITTING
THE POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM FT. RENO AND HIDING THAT FROM THE
TRIBE.
>> I DID NOT HAVE A SECRET DEAL WITH NATE LANDOW.
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T SEND HIM A MEMO SAYING, "I WANT HALF OF
WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AND LET'S JUST KEEP THAT BETWEEN THE TWO OF
US, FOR NOW?"
>> NO.
YOU'RE PARAPHRASING A MEMO IN WHICH I SAID, "NOBODY SHOULD TRY AND
MAKE MONEY OF THIS TRIBE.
TRULY, THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
SOMEBODY SHOULD STAND UP AS THE GATEKEEPER TO THE REST OF THE
WORLD FOR THIS TRIBE AND THEN YOU COULD DO WELL BY DOING GOOD.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE EQUALLY ANY
COMPENSATION THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE." THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE TRIBE
AND THE TRIBAL ATTORNEY PRIOR TO ME SENDING THAT MEMO TO NATE
LANDOW.
>> Reporter: WELL, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ASKED NATE LANDOW FOR
HALF THE MONEY HE WAS GOING TO GET.
>> WELL, HECK.
IF I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO EXTORT THE TRIBE FOR $200 MILLION AND
ALL I HAD TO DO IS KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY
MOUTH SHUT.
>> Reporter: SO YOU DIDN'T KEEP THIS A SECRET FROM THE TRIBE?
>> NEVER TRIED TO KEEP IT A SECRET FROM THE TRIBE.
>> Reporter: DID YOU EVER MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THIS?
>> NO, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY MONEY.
>> Reporter: THE TRIBE'S ATTORNEY SAYS THAT WHILE HE'S NOT SURE
WHEN HE LEARNED OF COPPERTHITE'S MEMO TO LANDOW, HE BELIEVES
COPPERTHITE'S ACTIONS PROVE HE'S ON THE SIDE OF THE TRIBE.
AS FOR THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO, ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS TO THEM IS
THAT THE FT. RENO LANDS STILL HAVEN'T BEEN RETURNED.
WHAT WAS RETURNED, HOWEVER, WAS THE $107,000 THE TRIBE GAVE THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
PARTY LEADERS GAVE IT BACK AFTER THE STORY HIT THE NEWSPAPERS.
IN A LETTER TO "DATELINE," THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE SAID
THEY -- FURTHER, THE DNC CLAIMS THE TRIBE MADE THE CONTRIBUTION
"WILLINGLY, KNOWINGLY AND ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE." THAT THEY
"CLEARLY HAD THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THE CONTRIBUTION." AND THAT THE
LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE $100,000
PLEDGE.
BUT MIKE COPPERTHITE SEES THAT MONEY AS PROOF OF A PARTY THAT'S
LOST ITS WAY.
YOU THINK THESE INDIANS WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?
>> SURE.
>> Reporter: SHAKEN DOWN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: TREATED BADLY?
>> BY THE BEST OR THE SLICKEST PEOPLE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: AS FOR THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO, THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP
OF THE TRIBE HAS MADE SOME CHANGES, INCLUDING TERMINATING THE
LEGAL SERVICES OF RICK GRELLNER AND SWEARING OFF POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND AT THE LAST TRIBAL ELECTION, CHARLES SURVEYOR WAS TURNED OUT
OF OFFICE.
BUT THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANEUVERING THE TRIBE, IF ONLY
BRIEFLY, INTO THE FAST LANE OF NATIONAL POLITICS, REMAINS
PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT THE ENTIRE ORDEAL.
THIS HAPPENED DURING AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO KEEP HIS JOB.
YOU CONTRIBUTED SOME MONEY.
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
>> WORKED OUT FOR HIM.
HE'S GOT HIS JOB.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU LOST YOURS.
>> TRUE.
THAT'S POLITICS.
>>> CAMPAIGN FUND-RAISING ALMOST BECAME AN ISSUE IN THE
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON.
REPUBLICANS ON THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DECIDED THURSDAY TO
DROP THAT PART OF THE INQUIRY AND INSTEAD FOCUS ONLY ON THE
ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING MONICA LEWINSKY.
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